Windshield wiper fluid reservoir

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a windshield wiper fluid reservoir ( 1 ) comprising a closure device ( 4 ) and a filling tube ( 2 ) for use in a windshield wiper system for motor vehicles. The aim of the invention is to improve the design of a prior art windshield wiper fluid reservoir ( 1 ) comprising a closure device ( 4 ) and a filling tube ( 2 ) whereby improving the ability to fill the reservoir, in particular, enabling a pressure filling involving the use of a pump nozzle. This is achieved by the provision of a filling tube ( 2 ), which comprises an integrated ventilation channel ( 3 ) in a one-piece design and is situated on the windshield wiper fluid reservoir ( 1 ). The ventilation channel ( 3 ) is shaped by reshaping the upper area of the filling tube. This ensues by pressing in the lateral surfaces ( 6 ) in the upper third of the filling tube ( 2 ) in a longitudinal direction.

The invention relates to a windshield wiper fluid reservoir comprising aclosure device and a filling tube for use in a windshield wiper systemfor motor vehicles.

Windshield wiper fluid reservoirs comprising a closure device and afilling tube are generally known.

Present-day motor vehicles are provided with windshield wiper systemscomprising a reservoir for holding the windshield wiper fluid to whichcleaning fluid or anti-freezing compound is added, if necessaryWindshield wiper fluid reservoirs of this type are normally arranged inthe engine compartment of a motor vehicle. The filling tube is providedwith a snap-in plastic lid. Windshield wiper fluid reservoirs arrangedin the motor vehicle engine compartment for the most part are providedwith a relatively large filling opening, so that sufficient space isavailable during the filling to allow the air inside the reservoir toescape without problem.

Present-day motor vehicles comprise a plurality of units which must beinstalled in the engine compartment in addition to the actual engine.The engines furthermore are also encapsulated to achieve a certaininsulating effect during the operation. As a result, the enginecompartment is therefore in general almost completely filled up.

Since motor vehicles nowadays are provided with systems for cleaning therear windshield and the headlights in addition to the front windshieldcleaning system, the windshield wiper fluid reservoirs must hold largeramounts of washer fluid.

For example, a windshield wiper fluid reservoir normally holds 1.5 to 3liters if only one windshield wiper system is provided.

However, if this reservoir must also supply the washer fluid for theheadlights, the content increases to 5 to 7 liters.

Given the tight space conditions of the engine compartment, it is notalways possible to enlarge the windshield wiper fluid reservoir.

Windshield wiper fluid reservoirs of this type are therefore frequentlyaccommodated in cavities in the car body, for example in the enginehood, the roof region, or the trunk lid. Windshield wiper fluidreservoirs of this type furthermore can also be accommodated in thefender region.

Reference DE 41 23 947 A1 discloses a liquid reservoir for a motorvehicle which is arranged in the cavity of the car body. The fluidreservoir can be arranged on the engine hood and/or the roof surfacesthat face the vehicle inside, wherein the shape of the respective fluidreservoir is adapted to the respective space conditions. If the fluidreservoir is arranged on the engine hood and/or on the trunk lid, thefluid reservoir is provided with a fold-out filling funnel. The fillingopening of the fluid reservoir is closed off with a screw-on lid or thelike to prevent the fluid from running out.

The filling tubes and/or funnels have a relatively narrow design owingto the tight space conditions. Thus, air trapped inside the reservoircannot always escape without problem during the filling of the reservoirwith washer fluid.

To effect a corresponding equalization of pressure during the filling ofthe windshield wiper fluid reservoir, it has been proposed in the pastto insert a hose into the filling tube, to provide a ventilation valveon the reservoir, or to fit a hose onto the reservoir.

However, inserting or fitting-on a hose has the disadvantage ofrequiring a high design expenditure for producing the hose receptacle aswell as a corresponding guide for the hose. Ventilation valves consistof several parts and their function can be impaired by dirt.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to modify a knownwindshield wiper fluid reservoir with a closure device and a fillingtube in such a way that the filling options are improved, in particularto permit a pressure filling with a nozzle.

This object is solved according to the invention by designing thefilling tube, arranged on the windshield wiper fluid reservoir, suchthat it forms one-piece together with integrated ventilation channel.

The ventilation channel is formed through reshaping of the upper regionof the filling tube by pushing in the side areas in the upper third ofthe filling tube, as seen in longitudinal direction. The opening of theventilation channel ends below the filling opening of the filling tubeand can also be closed off at the same time as the filling tube with thelid for the filling tube. The upper side surfaces of the filling tubeare pushed in over a specified length, wherein the shape of the fillingopening and the connecting tube to the windshield wiper fluid reservoiris retained. A windshield wiper fluid reservoir with filling tube isdesigned and/or produced in this way, which is provided with aventilation channel without requiring additional structural parts orcomponents.

The invention is to be explained in further detail with the aid of anexemplary embodiment which shows in:

FIG. 1A longitudinal section through the filling tube

FIG. 2A section along the line A-A.

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section through the filling tube 2 of awindshield wiper fluid reservoir 1. The windshield wiper fluid reservoir1 is only indicated in this Figure. The filling tube 2 is connected viathe tube 8 to the windshield wiper fluid reservoir 1. The fillingopening 9 is closed off with a lid 4 that can be rigged to stay open.The lid 4 is connected via the lid holder 7 to the filling tube 2.

The filling tube 2 is divided into a ventilation channel 3 and a fillingchannel 5. The ventilation channel 3 is formed by pushing the sidesurfaces 6 toward the inside in the upper third of the filling tube,such that the front surfaces 10 make contact approximately in thecenter.

As a result, the filling tube 2, designed as blow-molded part, is pushedtoward the inside with a corresponding tool that acts upon the sidesurfaces 6 in the upper third. The ventilation channel 3 ends just belowthe filling opening 9, so that this channel can be closed off at thesame time by the lid 4.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view along the line A-A through the fillingtube 2. The sectional representation shows that the ventilation channel3 and the filling channel 5 as one piece form the complete filling tube2.

The side surfaces 6 are pushed in on both sides in the upper third ofthe filling tube. The front surfaces 10 make contact approximately inthe center and consequently form a ventilation channel as well as afilling channel.

For the filling of the windshield wiper fluid reservoir 1, the fillingnozzle is inserted into the large opening of the filling tube 2. Thewindshield wiper fluid then runs via the filling channel 5 into thewindshield wiper fluid reservoir 1. During the pressure filling, thedisplaced air can escape through the smaller ventilation channel 3 fromthe reservoir.

Reference Numbers

-   1—windshield wiper fluid reservoir-   2—filling tube-   3—ventilation channel-   4—lid-   5—filling channel-   6—side surfaces-   7—lid holder-   8—tube-   9—filling opening-   10—front surface

1. A windshield wiper fluid reservoir with a closure device and afilling tube, characterized in that the filling tube arranged on thewindshield wiper fluid reservoir (1) is designed as one-piece fillingtube (2) with integrated ventilation channel (3).
 2. The windshieldwiper fluid reservoir according to claim 1, characterized in that theventilation channel (3) in the filling tube (2) is formed by pushing inthe side surfaces (6) in the upper third, along a longitudinal line. 3.The windshield wiper fluid reservoir according to claim 1, characterizedin that the opening of the ventilation channel (3) ends below theopening for the filling tube (2) and can be closed of at the same timeas with the filling channel (5) by the lid (4).
 4. The windshield wiperfluid reservoir according to claims claim 1, characterized in that withrespect to its length, the ventilation channel 3 is designed such thatthe basic shape of the tube 8 the filling opening (9) are retained.